Tamukkam Palace, Summer palace in Madurai, India
Tamukkam Palace is a former royal summer residence in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, built for the queen regent of the Nayak kingdom. The building features South Indian architecture with broad pillared halls, stone carvings, and large open courtyards.
The palace was built around 1670 by Queen Regent Rani Mangammal of the Madurai Nayak kingdom. The British later took over the building during the colonial period and used it for administrative purposes.
The palace now houses the Mahatma Gandhi Museum, which displays objects and documents connected to India's independence movement. Among the exhibits is a blood-stained garment that Gandhi was wearing at the time of his assassination.
The grounds also include Tamukkam Maidanam, a large open field that is regularly used for public events. Comfortable shoes are advisable as a visit involves walking through both indoor and outdoor areas.
The word Tamukkam comes from Tamil and literally means summer house, directly reflecting the building's original purpose. This kind of functional naming was unusual for Nayak palaces, which were more often named after their owners than after their use.
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